The Hawaiian Islands are a chain of islands known as an archipelago.
The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are eight primary islands in Hawaii, and traveling to them is fairly simple; you can either fly or take a cruise to this destination. Getting around the islands is an entirely different story. There are a few types of transportation options you can utilize, and their prices will range from budget to expensive depending on how many islands you wish to visit.
Instructions
Hawaiian Islands Transportation Options
1. Plan your trip itinerary. You'll first need to decide if you plan to visit more than one of the Hawaiian Islands. For example, if you'll be vacationing in Oahu only, then concentrate your focus on things to do and transportation services available on that particular island. If you wish to visit more than one of the islands, you'll need to research the different transportation options you have for each island you visit, as some do not offer bus service or car rental services.
2. Research transportation options. Once you plan out your vacation itinerary, you can proceed to look for transportation services to get around each island, or to get to and from different islands. The four largest islands of Hawaii (Hawaii--also known as the Big Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai) offer rental car services if you wish to drive yourself. You can either book a car rental service through your travel agent or wait until you arrive at your destination to do so. There is also public bus transportation to many parts of each island and schedules can be researched online through the Hawaii for Visitors website. You can always opt to use taxi or limousine services, too, but they will undoubtedly be the most expensive. If you're traveling on a budget or wish to save yourself some money, your best options would be to rent a car or take the bus.
3. Check out inter-island travel. While vacationing in Hawaii, if you plan to travel to some of the different islands, there are a couple of transportation options you can look into and plan for. The current inter-island ferries travel from Maui to either Lanai or Molokai. There is also an Oahu-based ferry that travels from the east side of the island to the west. Hawaii's super ferry ran from 2007 to 2009, but as of 2010 was no longer available due to continued environmental legal battles. The other option to travel from island to island would be to fly via a standard commercial airline like Hawaiian Airlines or on one of Mokulele Airlines' smaller passenger planes, called an "island hopper," that only seats up to nine people. There are now several inexpensive flights between the islands since the super ferry is no longer available. Your last option would be to take a cruise around all eight islands via Norwegian Cruise Lines. Depart from Honolulu and spend seven days cruising around the islands, stopping off in Maui, Hilo, Kona and Kauai.
4. Investigate other on-island transportation options. Besides renting a car or taking the bus, there are a few other ways you can travel around the islands. Some opt to travel around Oahu via the Waikiki Trolley service or by renting a moped. Train service is available in limited areas on both Maui and Oahu as well. If you're traveling to more remote areas of an island, you may have to hike on foot to get there, rent a horse to ride to the particular area you're trying to get to, or rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle if there is any rough or off-road terrain.
Tags: Hawaiian Islands, transportation options, around islands, each island, different islands, islands Hawaii, longer available